The Grave of Gelert
Just south of Snowdon, in the grey-stoned village of Beddgelert set among the wild mountains of Wales, is the Grave of Gelert. Here, in a beautiful meadow below Cerrig Llan, is a large stone slab lying on its side with two upright slabs which owes its fame to the legend of Prince Llewelyn ap Iorwerth and his faithful hound.
Llewelyn (1173-1240 CE) was very fond of hunting and in the summer he lived in a hunting lodge at the foot of Mt.Snowdon. Although he had many dogs, his favourite was the brave Gelert, his great Irish Wolfhound, not only a dog fearless in the hunt, but a loyal friend and companion at the fireside.
One fateful day on the hunt, Gelert refused to accompany his master further, but instead he ran howling back to the Lodge. When Llewellyn returned he was met by his dog, bounding to meet him, but splashed with blood around his muzzle. On entering his living quarters, Llewellyn found a scene of confusion with rooms disordered and articles scattered in heaps. Now Llewelyn had a son, barely a year old, and as the prince recalled how Gelert and his little boy used to play together, a terrible thought came to his mind !
The Borzoi Wolf Hound of Russia
The Borzoi is a native of Russia. The appearance is elegant, tall and rather like that of a Greyhound with a silky longer coat. The original ancestor is most likely the dog known centuries ago as the Steppe Greyhound and the Borzoi retains many of the characteristics of this “sight hound”. Russian nobility cherished this breed for its qualities of perseverance and endurance on the hunt. The Borzoi is a breed that would give chase, surround and worry the wolf until it could be brought down by the hunter.
The breed in the United States has become a favorite in the sport of Lure Coursing. Of course it is also well known as an exotic looking breed in the Conformation ring, being a member of the Hound Group. In fact it retains the hound instinct and is being used more and more in the western states as a natural coyote hunter.
The Borzoi can have a coat of many colors, there are no specific restrictions. The coat should be thick and luxurious except for the face and the fronts of the legs which should be smooth. This is a breed that should have the appearance of refined elegance and its manner and movement should be graceful and balanced. The ears are fold over and the muzzle should have a distinct “Roman nose” appearance. The dog is tall (26 to 28 inches at the withers) and should have a very deep chest. Loins should have a distinctive arch, so that the dog can run with great speed and length of stride at a gallop. This ability is of course necessary because of the original function to hunt and bring to bay the wolves of ancient Russia. Furthermore this type of build allows for easy flexibility for quick turns. Form should follow function and in this case, regardless of the picture of beauty that this dog presents, it should be a dog which is able to carry out its original purpose. The total picture of this exotic looking breed should be that of aristocratic elegance coupled with especially graceful and free-flowing movement.
The Wolf Stuffed Animal and What The Wolf Can’t Be Blamed For
For anyone interested in collecting soft toys, going with a theme makes it easier when choosing which ones to buy. Some of the more popular [themes] include jungle and dinosaur plush, as well as farm and forest plush. With forest stuffed toys, the animal collection can consist of everything from plush moose to plush raccoons and bunnies, to the wolf stuffed animal.
For many years, the wolf was on the endangered species list in the United States thanks to ranchers killing them off so as to protect their livestock from becoming their main source of food. The situation was so dire in fact, that most of the wolf population was decimated. However, over a ten year period, gray wolves were re-introduced to Yellowstone National Park, where they now thrive. During the same time as the reintroduction, the elk population in Yellowstone also dropped by more than 40 percent, putting blame on none other than, the newly resurrected wolf.
Analysis of statistical data from the Yellowstone region paints a much different picture regarding the elk’s decline. From 1995 to 2006, it had already been estimated that the elk numbers would be cut in half thanks to conditions of drought and pressure from hunting. In fact, during the time frame in which those conditions were prevalent, the elk population dropped 44 percent – from 17,000 to 9,500.